TCBY: has opened a new quick-service restaurant, Yovana, designed to meet consumer demand for fresh, healthy food. Yovana, which translates into “pure yogurt Nirvana,” offers premium yogurt parfaits, smoothies and yogurt treats with fresh fruit and wholegrain granola. The first prototype store opened this month in Gilbert, AZ.
AVIS: has signed a sponsorship with the U.S. Adult Soccer Association, and has been designated the preferred Rental Car of USASA. As part of the partnership, USASA teams and individual members will receive discounts on Avis rentals, and Avis’s offerings and rental locations will be promoted to the USASA membership.
SPRINT: has renewed its existing sponsorship agreement with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard Association, the national governing body of Olympic skiing and snowboarding. Sprint will continue to serve as an official sponsor and exclusive communications provider of the U.S. Ski Team and U.S. Snowboarding through 2008.
MEDIA AGENCIES: Mediaedge:cia and MindShare joined with out-of-home media firm Poster Publicity to form Kinetic, an out-of-home media company headed by Chairman John Miller, who had been managing partner at Mediaedge:cia. Poster Publicity President Steve Ridley becomes Kinetic CEO. The new firm is based in New York, with a Miami office open now and a West Coast office planned by yearend.